Slip sheeting device



F. NIGRA SLIP SHEETING DEVICE Dec. 6, 1938.

Original Filed Oct. 22, 1934 2 Sh eats-Sheet 1 I N VEN TOR.

HERD/Nana N/GRA A TTORNEY Dec. 6, 1938. F. NIGRA SLIP SHEETING DEVICE Original Filed Oct. 22, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. FERDINAND NIGRA NM, n z M,

A TTORNEY Patented Dec. 6, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,139,132 I SLIP snnn'rmo DEVICE I a Ferdinand Nigra, San Francisco, Calif; assignor to Niagara Duplicator Company, San Francisco;

Calii., a corporation of California 1936, Serial No. 67,927

7 Claims. (Ci. 34-4)v v The invention relates to a slip-sheeting device for use at the receiving tray of a sheet printing apparatus, and the present application comprises a division of my copending patent application Ser. No. 749,328, filed Oct. 22, 1934, for a Duplicating machine.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved interleaving or slip-sheeting device in association with a receiving tray for freshly printed sheets wherein interleaving cards are arranged to be delivered upon the printed sheets as they are deposited in the tray.

Another object is to provide a slip-sheeter which is particularly adapted for operative association with a duplicating mechanism of the mimeograph type wherein sheets of paper to be printed on are successively fed between a stencil on a rotary cylinder and an impression roller.

A further object is to provide for operating the slip-sheeter from and in synchronism with the operating mechanism of the duplicating machine whereby the slip sheets are automatically delivered to the tray alternately with the printed sheets and perpendicularly upon the latter sheets.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the fore going, will be set forth or be apparent in the following description of a typical embodiment of the invention, and in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a plan view of a duplicator having the slip sheeter operatively associated therewith.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the assembly of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken generally at 3-3 in Figure 1, and particularly shows actuating mechanisms for the slip-sheeter in operative association with the duplicator mechanism.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary and somewhat diagrammatic view of the sheet-feeding and printing mechanism of the duplicator.

Figure 5 is a sectional elevation of the receiving tray and the associated slip-sheeter, the view being taken generally at 5--5 in Figure 1 and showing the operating mechanism for the slipsheeter.

Figure 6 is a plan view taken generally at 6-6 in Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a transverse section taken at 1-1 in Figure 5.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a packaging and stop element which is associated with a stack of the slip sheets.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of a detent assembly'of Figure 4 By way of illustration, the present slip-sheeter is shown as operatively associated with a duplicating machine 'lin which a stencil 2 is carried on a rotary" cylinder 3 for'printing engagement with a sheet of paper or'other material for receiving printing. The'printing cylinder 3 is supportedfor rotation on and between side frame members 5 and which extend upwardly and in mutual opposition from a rectangular'base frame I and receive the duplicator mechanism between them. Externally thereof, and at its end nearest the frame member 6, a belt pulley 8 is provided on the cylinder 3 for optional use in efiecting a power rotation of the cylinder. A

shaft S'is journalled in the frame member -5 in parallel relation to the rotative axis of the cylinder, and is connected with the cylinder through constantly engaged gears ii and i2 which are respectively provided on it and on the cylinder. At its outer end, the shaft 9' carries a hand crank ii for use to manually rotate the cylinder through the coaction of the gears II and [2 Referring to the generally diagrammatic showing of Figure 4, a sheet ll of print-receiving material which has been moved from a'feed table I5 to dispose its front end portion between pairs of upper and lower rollers 15 and I! may be thereafter engaged by and between said rollers and is thereby advanced forwardly for the disposal of its front end portion between the stencil on the rotary cylinder 3 and an impression roller l8, and is finally gripped between the cylinder and the impression roller to continue the feeding movement of the sheet while the latter is being printed. I I

The impression roller IB is mounted for its free rotation on a shaft l9 which is carried by and between corresponding and rearward ends of lever-like members 20 which are intermediately pivoted on a fixedly disposed rock-shaft 2!, said shaft being journalled in and between the frame members 5 and 6 and being disposed toward the rear or feeding end of the machine with respect to the roller I 8.

The forward ends of the lever members 20 are connected by a bar 22, and a tension spring 23 extends generally forwardly from the bar 22' to an anchorage in the frame base 1 to constantly urge a resilient engagement of the impression roller l8 against the cylinder 3. The extremities of the shaft I 9 and the bar 22 pivotally engage the ends of the levers 20 whereby the generally planar assembly of these members may be disend of an arm 24 with an anchorage on the base 1- 5 whereby the arm is resiliently urged to maintain an engagement thereof with an adjustable stop 21 mounted on a suitable bracket extendingfrom the frame member 6; it wilL-beunderstood that: the stop 21 determines one limit of oscillation of l the shaft 2|. The rollers l6 are mounted on a shaft; 28 jvhich is loosely journalled in and betweeh the upper ends or lever-like members 29 which are disposed in generally upright position and are intermediately-pivoted on the shaft 2i for rocking independently of the latter shaft; Preferably, and

as shown, the upper lever portion'sare curved rearwardly whereby the shaft 28 rnay'be disposed directly above thelineof'lower feedroller's I! for cooperation of the pairs of feed rollers to grip a sheet l4betweenthe'm The lower arms of the levers 29 areconnectedi to the side frame members 5, andaG ,by' means of tension springs 3| operative in the planes of movement'gf the levers whereby the shaft 28 is yieldingly, urged to main tain its engagement with, adjustable stops 32 which are provided on theirame membersijand 6 respectively and while the. rollers 16,, are infa limiting lowered position with respect tothe axis oftherollersiln I f A fixedly disposed shaft l34 carries the rollers i1, and said rollers are segmental whereby their cylindrical face portions extend through an are which is somewhatdessthan aifull circle. The rollers I! have like perirneters and are similarly positioned on the-shaft 34 whereby they may simultaneously coact .indike' manner with the rollers i6 above them.

As the rollers i! are rotated, theircylindrical faces are arranged to engage and grip a sheet [4 between them and the rollers IGVat a line at or adjacent the common plane of the shafts 28 and 34, it being noted that the rollers l1 coact with the rollers l6vonly while their cylindrical faces are in opposition to the latter rollers. Preferably, and as shown, the circles of the cylindrical faces of the rollers H are arranged to intersect the circles of the depressed rollers i6 whereby the latter rollers may be pressed upwardly against the resistance of the springs 3i and an equalized and resilient gripping of the sheet l4 between the sets of rollers I6 and I! may be assured while the rollers are coactive in the described manner. It will thus be understood that the rollers I! are operative as a sheet-feeding means for only a part of each rotative cycle thereof.

An elongated plate member 36 is mounted in generally horizontal disposition and in a plane slightly below the rollers l6, and rectangular openings are provided in the plate 35 opposite the segmental rollers [1 to permit the described periodic coaction of the rollers i6 and I! therethrough. The portion of the plate 35 forwardly of the feed rollers Sand 41 slopes upwardly in generally tangential relation to the cylinder face. A. frame cross-bar 40 disposed rearwardly of the shafts 28 and 34 mounts the plate 36.

Rollers 42 are provided for periodically engaging the top sheet 14 of a stack of sheets on the feed table i5 and for subsequent rotation to adsa s a.

vance the engaged sheet to and against the stops 39, said rollers 42 being shown as fixed on a common shaft 43 which is carried by and between arms 44 extending rigidly from a rock-shaft 45 journalled in and between the frame members 5 and 6 and is parallel to both the feed table top and the cylinder a'xis. To insure a delivery to the machine of butone sheet I4 at a time for printing from the stencil, the advance end of the stack of sheets on the table I5 is engaged with an upright stop post 46 in such manner that only the top sheet lies above the top of the post 46 when the rollers 42rare actuated to advance a sheet.

When the -top..sheet has been completely re moved'from above the stack, the table I5 is arranged to be automatically raised to dispose solely thefnext sheet for removal by the rollers 42; this automatic control of the table I5 is fully described in the beforementioned application of which this application is a division. The post 46 is prefer- "ably positioned in the longitudinal central line of thelsheets of the stack and is fixed to and between the frame cross-ban and a lower crossbar 41 which gen'erallyjuhderlies the bar'40.

By particular reference to Figure 4, it will be noted that a roller 42 isthere shown'in pressure engagement with the top sheet 14 of the'stack of sheets on.the,.ta ble,iSLfthefroller I1 is in an inoperative position, andthe impression roller l8'enpreviously fed sheet 14 against the cylinder 3. 'The foregoing positions and relationsof the, operative partspff the described sheet-feeding means er 1 the present machine marlpi convenat the beginningfloffa cycle of operations of the present duplicator' machine 'with respect to the printing of a given sheet; said cycle of operations is fully describedi'n the beforementioned applica- ,iently, considered ,as representing the conditions tion,-and its last two steps comprise the discharge ofthe printed sheet and the lowering of the impression roller l 8 out of engagement with the cylinder as the only steps of spe'cific interest in relation to the present slip-sheeting device.

Means are preferably provided for preventing an operative disposition of the impression jroller l8 unlessa sheet i4 is actually on' its way for printing engagement between the stencil on ,the cylinder 3 and the roller l8. As particularly illustrated in Figure 4, a swinging stop member 48 is provided for such coaction with the bar 22 of the described rockable mounting for the roller l8 as to prevent the operative positioning of the roller unless a sheet i4 is then engaged between the rollers 16 and I1. As shown, the stop member 48 is pivoted to the frame cross-bar 41 and is resiliently urged to maintain contact with the bar 22 through the action of a tension spring 49 which is coactive between it and the cross-bar 41.

Intermediately in its bar-engaging face, the member 48 is provided with a notch 5 l for receiving a complementarily formed portion of the bar 22 in such a manner as to prevent a further lowering of the bar while permitting a lifting of the bar from the notch. While the bar 22 is distween limiting positions thereof; the bar is lifted positively as the arms 24 move upwardly and is lowered through the action of the spring 23 as the arms move downwardly until its further lowering is prevented either by its engagement in the notch 5| or by the engagement of the impression roller l8 against the under side of a sheet l4 at the cylinder.

A detent 52 is provided for operating to prevent the engagement of the bar 22 in the notch 5| of the stop member 48 as the bar moves downwardly along the working face of the member and while a sheet I4 is disposed in the machine for'the printing thereof, said detent being directly coactive with said'member. As shown in Figures 4 and 9 the detent 52 depends from a shaft 53 which is journalled in and between bearing blocks provided on the frame cross-bar 40 and for oscillation about an axis parallel to the axis of the cylindr. The detent 52 is pivoted to the shaft 53 for rocking in a plane parallel to the shaft axis and from a normal position thereof in which it is displaceably held by a tension spring 54 which is appropriately operative between the detent and the shaft 53 which carries it.

One or more fingers 55 extend generally radially from the shaft 53 to have their free ends overlie the shaft 34 at a plate opening for swinging upwardly through said opening to engage any sheet l4 thereabove. The detent 52 is arranged to be normally disposed in the arcuate path of movement of a top extension 56 of the member 48 whereby said extension may engage the detent to rock the shaft'53 and thereby lift the fingers 55.

' If a finger 55 encounters a sheet l4 as it is lifted, the sheet operates to prevent a further rocking of the shaft and a displacement of the detent, whereby the detent is then' and thereafter operative to hold the member 48 out of engagement with the rod 22 while the latter is swung downwardly past the notch 5| of the member. -If the fingers '55 encounter no sheet abovethem the engagement of the member 48 with the rod 22 continues and the rod is permitted to seat in the notch 5|; the latter is understood to be the condition of the sheet-feeding mechanism before the first sheet of a stack on the feed table is advanced for printing or following an actuation of the mechanism without a' feeding of a sheet therethrough.

Referring to the showing of Figure 4, it is noted that while a sheet i4 is being primarily adv'anced,the shaft 2| would be so rotated that its arm 24 has lifted the bar 22 above the notch Si and, by reason of the engagement of the bar with the upper portion of the working face of the member 48, has rocked the member to dispose the upper end 56 of the member behind the plane of the detent 52. While the roller 42 is being raised from the sheet, the arm 24 is gradually lowered to permit a lowering of the bar 22 and a movement of the free extremity of the stop member 48 toward and against the detent 52 whereby, just before the bar 22 is positioned opposite the notch 5|, the engagement of the detent with the member 48 has rocked the fingers 55 against the sheet l4 at the rollers IS.

The sheet i4, thereafter acting as a stop, holds the detent 52 fixed in front of the member 48 to prevent the further forward movement of the member as the arm 24 is lowered to its starting position to dispose the bar 22 below the notch 5|. When the sheet I4 is advanced beyond the contact end of the finger 55, the fingers lift to release the member 48 for contacting the bar 22 at a point of the member below the notch 5| and the detent may be disposed on top of the member 48 which then underlies it; whenever the detent engages the top of the member 48, it is arranged to be displaced in its plane and against the resistance of the spring 54. A subsequent upward movement of the bar 22 as the next sheet I4 is advanced restores the previous conditions and the described cycle of operations of the feed mechanism is thereafter repeated.

The various shafts 2| and 34 and 43 are arranged to be appropriately actuated in the desired manner and sequence by a suitable actuating mechanismwhich is shown generally in Figure 3. The required operations are primarily derived from the controlled'reciprooative movement of a bar 58 which pivotally engages an arm 58 extending rigidly from the shaft 2| and -is forked at its upper end to span a hub extending from the cylinder. The bar 58 is disposed in generally upright position in parallel relation to the frame side 5, and a plate cam 60 is mounted on the cylinder adjacent and inwardly of the forked portion of the bar 58. At its inner side, and in the plane of the cam 80, the bar 58 carries a roller for periodic engagement by the cam to lower the bar and so oscillate the shaft 2| as is required for controlling the disposal of the impression roller [8, said roller being arranged to be operative only where a sheet i4 is disposed between. it and the cylinder. It is notedthat the spring 26 for the shaft 2| is operative to urge the upward disposal of the arm 58 and the bar 58.

An actuator element 62 is pivoted to the frame side 5 adjacent the plane of operation of the bar 58. The element 62 comprises a fiat plate pro-- viding a segmental gear 63, an arm 84, and a radial slot 65. A roller 66 is mounted at the outer-face of the bar 58 and constantly engages in the slot 65 whereby the element 62 is arranged for oscillation about its pivotal axis as the bar 58 is reciprocated, said axis being fixed.

The segmental gear 63 is utilized to effect the periodic rotation of the shaft 34 which carries the segmental feed rollers l| through the operation of a pinion 68 which it constantly engages and which is connected with the shaft 34 through a suitable ones-way clutch 61 in such a manner that the shaft 34 is rotated only by and during a return movement of the element 62 to its normal position which is shown in Figure 3. It will be understood that it is this rotation of the shaft 34 which periodically effects the described operative rotation of the segmental rollers ll at the appropriate time in each rotative cycle of the printing cylinder 3.

A rack bar 69 is pivoted at one end thereof to the arm 64 of the actuator elect 62 and is onerative, through connections not shown, to rotate the shaft 43 and the feed rollers 42 thereon at each movement of the actuator 82. A suitable means is provided to oscillate the rock-shaft 45 whereby the rollers 42 engage the top sheet of a stack on the feed table 5 only while rotating ,in a sheet-advancing direction, and for advancing the engaged sheet to contact a line of temporarily operative stops beyond the plane of the shafts l6 and [1, after which the rollers are raised out of contact with the engaged sheet until the same has been advanced from beneath it. Appropriate devices for controlling the positioning and operation of the feed rollers 42 are disclosed and described in detail in the beforementioned patent application of which this application is a division. A

Printed sheets l4 delivered from between the stencil 2 and the impression roller l8 are arranged to fall into a collecting tray 13, and means are preferably provided for interposing insert sheets 14 between the printed sheets I4 as the latter are delivered to the tray. As particularly illustrated in Figures 3 and 5 and 7, a stack of the sheets I4 is arranged for support in a tray 15 mounted on and above the tray 13 and having an open bottom, and means are'provided for releasing the sheets 14 one at a time for fallingupon a delivered sheet [4 in the lower traybefore the next sheet is delivered, the device being known as slip-sheeting.

The sheets 14 are alike and are each provided with two spaced notches 16 in each edge thereof. The notches of the two sheet edges are equally spaced apart but are differently spaced with respect to the same sheet end. In a stack of sheets 14 for use in the present machine, alternate sheets are reversed as to the disposal of the notches 75 in the stack whereby the correspondingly disposed notches of the sheets define four lines thereof at each edge of the stack, the latter being indicated in Figure 5.

The stack of sheets in the tray 15 is suported on four rollers 11 which engage below the stack and may pass through the notches 16 when they register therewith. In plan arrangement, the rollers TI are spaced exactly as the notches 16 of a sheet 14 and are arranged for their simultaneous disposal beneath the bottom sheet of the stack at its notches I6 whereby they mayengage the next higher sheet through the notches ofthe bottom sheet to thereby release the latter. The rollers 11 are supported on the ends of stub shafts 18 which extend beneath the stack from bar 19 disposed and supported at opposite sides of the tray I5 as the primary support means for the stack; in this manner, a released sheet 14 may fall freely intothe underlying tray I3. In Figure 5, the rollers II are shown as disposed to release the lower sheet from the tray 15, said sheet'not yet having fallen.

The roller-supporting bars 19 are mounted for longitudinal reciprocation in their places and are pivotally connected by a cross-bar 88 which is pivoted centrally of its connections with the bars 19 to a rearward projection 81 of the tray 15, it being noted that a rocking of the crossbar about its pivot point is arranged to oppositely shift the bars 19 and their rollers 11 to like degrees. Following a release of the bottom sheet of a stackof sheets 14 by reason of the registration of the rollers 11 with the notches 16 thereof, a shifting of the bar 80 to dispose the rollers beneath the notches of the second sheet will release this sheet, it.i :hus being understood that the sheets may be released from the bottom of the-stack and one at a time by oscillating the bar 80 between limiting positions thereof which dispose the rollers 11 in sheetreleasing positions.

Means are Provided for oscillating the bar 80 for effecting successive sheet-releasing disposals of the rollers H in synchronism with the delivery of printed sheets [4 into the tray 13, a preferred mechanism for this purpose being shown in detail in Figures 3 and 5. As particularly shown, an arm 82 is pivoted at its lower end at a pivot pin extending from the frame side 5. and is pivotally connected at its upper end with the bar 80 through a suitable link member 83. Intermediately thereof, the arm 82 is pivoted to a bar 84 which is engaged between four fixedly mounted rollers 85 for a solely longitudinal reciprocation thereof.

A three-point star-wheel 86 is mounted adjacent the bar 84, and rollers 81 are mounted on the bar for engagement with diametrically opposite points of the star-wheel periphery, the arrangement being such that a one hundred twenty degree rotation of the star-wheel will shift the bar 84 from one limiting position to the other and at the same time prevent an over-travel thereof.- It is noted that the pivotal axis of the star-wheel lies in the plane of the axis of the rollers 81 whereby 'a close regulation of the reciprocation of the bar 84 and the oscillation of the arm 83 maybe assured. V

Pins 88 extend from the star-wheel 86 at the side thereof opposite the bar 84, six of said pins being shown and the pins being arranged in a circle having its center in the star-wheel axis. Leaf springs 89 and 90 extend from the inner face of the frame member 5 and have their free extremities normally disposed ,in the path of movement of the pins ,88 whereby the springs are normally coactive with the pins to prevent a rotation of the star-wheel in either direction from a set position thereof when the bar 84 is in a limiting position thereof, it being noted that the springs function oppositely with respect to a rotativedisplacementof the star-wheel.

A pull bar 9! is normally operative between the pins 88 and an:arm 92 extending rigidly from a lever 28 which carries the corresponding ends of the impression roller and the bar 22 in the previously disclosed manner. The bar 9| is pivotally connected to the arm 92 through a pivot pin 93 which is slidablyguided ina longitudinal slot 94 of the bar end thereat and is normally held inwardly in the slot through the action of a tension spring 95 which is coactive between the pin and bar. In this manner, the bar is arranged for reciprocation at eachrocking of the levers 20.

At the edge of the bar 9| toward the pins 88, the bar is formed to provide ahook 96 for engagingbehind a pin 88 for rotating the starwheel 86 while a subsequent return movement of the bar is being eiIected. At the side thereof which is designed to be disposed toward the spring 89, the point of the bar 9| is bevelled whereby the sliding engagement of the bar between the star-wheel and spring is arranged to then render the spring 89 inoperative and permit a rotation of the star-wheel when the return stroke of the bar is made. The spring 90 remains operative at all times.

For holding the bar 9i in operative relation to the plane of the star-wheel, the back edge of the bar slidably engages a member 91 which is pivoted on the frame member 5 and has one end thereof resiliently pressed against the bar through the action of a spring 98 which is operative against the member 91. If the described actuation of the star-wheel is not desired, the member 91 may be swung into generally parallel relation with the bar through a manual rocking of a lever 99 which appropriately engages the member and is arranged to be frictionally held in a set position; when the member 98 is so disposed, the hook 96 does not engage the starwheel pins 88 as the bar 9! is reciprocated in synchronism with. the cylinder action.

It will now be particularly noted that the hook 96 of the bar 9| is arranged to operatively engage a pin 88 of the star-wheel only as a sheet I4 is delivered from between the stencil and the impression roller Hi. This control is afforded in accordance with the disposal of the bar 22 in a downward direction whereby, if the bar 22 is engaged in the notch 5| of the swinging stop member 48 because of no sheet being advanced, the arm 92 does not project the bar 9i far enough to engage its 'hoolrlSB with'a-pin 88"for thereafter "5 rpckingthe' star-wheel .to release-'aslip-sheet I4 in the described man'ner. Since-thebar 22 U is stopped at the notch 5Ifunless'"a sheet I4 is being advanced through the described feeding mechanism, it' will be understood-that a slip of a printed sheet [II from the printing mech' ani'sminto-'the collecting tray 13;"

merit orthe printedsheets in the tray'l3. As par- 'sertion of its legs- I 02 through spaced openings I03 providedin the sheets I4. Two pairs of openings I03'are' shown in thesheets 'I4,each pair 'of openings 'defining'a line transverse to the longi 25 tudinal axis of the sheets and corresponding openings being aligned in the stack whereby the legs I02 may be disposed therethrough.

In its present embodiment, the member IN is formed of resilient material in such a manner 30 that the legs I02 tend to spread out of a mutual parallelism thereof, and a detachable link I04 connects the leg extremities below the stack whereby the slip sheets of the stack are releasably held between the head of the member and 35 the link I04, and the legs I02 are held parallel. Below the link I 04, the extremities of the legs I02 are arranged to engage in slots I05 of the bottom plate I 06 of the tray 13 whereby the member IOI may be disposed and held in a plane per- 40 pendicular to that of the tray bottom to extend upwardly through the slip sheet stack through which it engages. It will be noted that the legs of the member IIII operate to limit the discharge movement of printed sheets I4 in the tray for 45 insuring their orderly disposal between adjacent slip sheets 14 as the printed sheets are delivered. For shorter sheets I 4, the member IOI would be engaged in a pair of slip sheet openings I03 and corresponding tray base openings I05 which are 50 nearer to the cylinder than the openings for use with longer sheets.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the advantages of the construction and method of 55 operation will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains. While I have described the features and the principle of operation of a structure which I now consider to be a preferred embodiment of my invention, I desire to have it understood that the showing is primarily illustrative, and that such changes may be made, when desired, as fall within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

55 1. In combination with a continuously operable duplicator, a tray for receiving printed sheets from the duplicator in horizontal disposition, a stack of slip sheets in horizontal disposition and for the release of the bottom sheet of 70 the stack for gravity delivery upon a printed sheet in the tray and before the succeeding printed sheet is deposited in the tray, means for releasing successive slip sheets from the bottom of the stack upon diiferent printed sheets delivered 75 to the tray, and a U-shaped member engaged 'sheet 14 isonly'ireleased followingtheidischarge transversely and freely through said stack of slip sheets said member being inverted and having its legs removably extending into the tray bottom'whereby the legs of the member are operative as a stop for the printed sheets and a guide meansfor the falling slip sheets.

'2. In combination with a sheet printing apparatus, a tray for receiving printed sheets from the apparatus inhorizontal disposition, an elewaited-stack of slip sheets removably supportedin horizontal disposition above the tray and for the H i release of the bottom sheet of the-stack for its Sincethe slip sheets'llareused'repeatedly and V I are disposed inal'ternate arrangement in' a stack 15 thereof, m'eans are provided for 'retaining the V slip"'sheets'fin the required "arrangement, said means also providing a stop to limit the move gravity delivery upon'a'printed sheet in' the tray and before the succeeding printed sheet is deposited in-the tray, means for releasing successive l5 'slip sheets' from the bottomof the stack upon 'differentprint'edsheets deliveredto the tray, 2.

I -'U-shaped member engaged transversely and ticularly'illustrated in Figures 6 and'I-and 8,'a

2o U-shaped member IOI is provided for themfreely through said stack of 'slip sheets, said member being inverted and having the-free ends of' its legs removably extending into the tray bottom whereby the legs of the member are operative 'as a stop for the printed sheets and a guide means for-the falling slip-sheets, and'a link member connecting the legs of the first member above and adjacent the tray bottom and below the lowermost slip sheet whereby the members provide a loop which retains the slip sheets in their order in the stack and is removable with the stack.

3. In combination with a continuously operable duplicator or the like, a tray for receiving printed sheets from the duplicator and in horizontaldisposition, a stack of like-shaped slip sheets overlying said tray, each of said slip sheets having its opposite side edges provided with mutually spaced notches which have the same mutual spacing at both sheet edges and are differently spaced from the same sheet end and successive slip sheets in the stack being so related that the notches of alternate sheets define different lines of notches in the two sets thereof in the stack, a set of support members engaged beneath the stack and arranged for simultaneous registration with the notches of the bottom sheet of the stack whereby said sheet may be released and the new bottom sheet is supportedly engaged by the support members, and means to simultaneously and oppositely shift the support members at the different stack sides to simultaneously dispose the members in registration with the notches of the last sheet for the release thereof.

4. A structure in accordance with claim 3 wherein different slide bars carry the support members at the different stack sides, and means are provided to simultaneously and oppositely displace said bars to thereby shift the members to release the bottom slip sheet of the stack.

5. A structure in accordance with claim 3 having mutually parallel and independent slide bars mounting the support members at the different stack sides, slideways carrying said bars for their reciprocation between limiting positions in which the support members thereon register with the slip sheet notches of the different sets thereof, and a lever engaging said slide bars and intermediately pivoted whereby a rocking of the lever is arranged to simultaneously shift all of the support members from beneath one said set of notches to the other.

6. In combination with a continuously operable sheet printing apparatus having a member which is rocked during each printing cycle of the apparatus, a tray for receiving printed sheets from the apparatus, and a device for slip sheeting the printed sheets as they are deposited in the tray; means for operating said slip sheeting device from said rockable member, comprising a rotary member arranged for a. solely one way rotation thereof, a bar connected to the rockable member for its longitudinal reciprocation when the latter' member is rocked from itsinormai position, means whereby said bar is arranged to actuate said rotary member to effect a rotatlve displacement thereof solely upon a return stroke of the bar, an actuator for said slip sheeting device comprising a lever arranged for swinging between limiting positions thereof whereby each movement thereof from one positionto the other is member is rotatively displaced by an actuation of the first bar.

7. In combination with a continuously operable duplicator, a tray for receiving printed sheets from the duplicator in horizontal disposition, a

, stack of slip sheets in horizontal disposition and for the release of the bottom sheet of the stack for gravity delivery upon a printed sheet in the tray and before the succeeding printed sheet is deposited in the tray, means for releasing the bottom sheet of the stack upon each printed sheet delivered to the tray, and a U-shaped member engaged transversely and freely through said stack of slip sheets said member being inverted and having its legs removably extending into the tray bottom whereby the legs of the member are operative as a stop for the printed sheets and a guide means for the falling slip sheets.

FERDINAND NIGRA. 

